Liquor Licensing for Breweries & Wineries in Florida

Breweries and wineries operate differently from traditional bars, restaurants, and alcohol retailers. In addition to producing alcoholic beverages, many businesses also want to sell their products directly to customers or incorporate taprooms, tasting rooms, tours, and other experiences into their operations.

These different activities can affect the licenses and approvals required in Florida. Beverage License Specialists helps breweries and wineries evaluate their planned operations and navigate the alcoholic beverage licensing process.

Licensing a Florida Brewery or Winery

Breweries and wineries are part of the manufacturing tier of the alcoholic beverage industry. As a result, their licensing needs extend beyond the retail beer and wine licenses commonly used by restaurants, bars, and stores.

The appropriate licensing path depends on what the business plans to produce and what activities will take place at the licensed premises.

For example, licensing considerations may differ between a production-focused brewery, a winery offering tastings, and a business that combines manufacturing with direct-to-consumer sales.

From Production to the Tasting Room

For many breweries and wineries, the customer experience is an important part of the business model. A property may include a taproom or tasting area where customers can sample products, purchase beverages, or participate in tours and events.

These activities should be considered when planning the licensed operation. Manufacturing alcoholic beverages does not mean every type of retail sale or on-premise consumption is automatically permitted.

Understanding what you want customers to be able to do at the property can help determine the licensing structure needed for the business.

Selling Beer or Wine Directly to Customers

Breweries and wineries may also want to sell their products directly to consumers for customers to take home. The licensing considerations for these sales can differ from those associated with manufacturing or serving beverages for consumption at the property.

Businesses planning both on-premise and off-premise sales should account for each part of the operation when evaluating their licensing needs.

This is especially important when developing a new concept, expanding an existing facility, or adding a tasting room or other customer-facing component to a production operation.

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Expanding or Changing Your Brewery or Winery

Alcohol licensing should also be considered when an existing brewery or winery changes how it operates.

Adding new production capabilities, changing the licensed premises, introducing customer-facing alcohol service, or expanding into additional types of sales may affect existing licensing and approvals.

Evaluating those changes before implementing them can help determine whether additional licensing steps are necessary.

Navigate Florida Brewery & Winery Licensing

Licensing a brewery or winery requires an understanding of both the products being manufactured and how those products will ultimately be sold or served.

Beverage License Specialists works with Florida breweries and wineries to evaluate their operations, identify applicable licensing requirements, and assist with applications and related licensing matters.

Contact Beverage License Specialists to discuss licensing for your Florida brewery or winery.